I was thinking today about the social workers killed in Afghanistan during this week, and how we all are just at one step from eternity. In the beginning I was considering in making a political statement about what happened there, after all we can't put aside the political aspects of a system that uses violence as their language of transformation (killing even those helping their own people in what can be highlighted as an act of pure disloyalty) and making use of lies to justify killing someone. Later I thought of making a religious statement by questioning how a medical group can be considered as the infidel, the enemy as described in the Koram, according to them (even though it doesn't describe them like that) just to conclude that the Taliban is only interested in their own interests and not on what the Bible or the Koram says. For sure they are not doing the will of God, only their own.But I got to the conclusion that putting my focus in the Taliban and other terrorist groups which are not interested in building and respecting life (they didn't do it when they were in power, and for sure they don't do it now) is not worthy of any value. Instead I decided to put my focus on the valiant soldiers of faith and how their lives should be an example for us. It was terrible what happened to them, but their lives should encourage us to follow ahead and bring consolation to the abandoned, weary, refugee, sick, rejected, abused, so that they may reach relief and get to know the love of our Savior.Those valuable soldiers fell down, but there was a great cloud of witnesses surrounding, watching and witnessing their effort, value and integrity while they followed the model left by Jesus to run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1-3).While I was thinking about that I was reminded of this text about David and his mighty warriors and how we can also experience other kinds of fall that are not quite glorious, if we don't watch the way we walk and run at the race marked out for us. I post it below:

2 Samuel 21:15-17

David and his men went to battle again against the Philistines. But after some time David feels tired, after all he no longer is the little shepherd that fought against Goliath, having become a king in his old days. It is at this moment that Ishbibenob, a giant, come to attack him. Have you thought that the only giant David fought against was Goliath? Well, now you know better.This giant had gotten a new sword that, it’s believed, was specially forged to kill David. He wanted to inaugurate it through David's death. The giant was only waiting for the right moment, and he found it when he saw that David was tired. David was under his grip. But at this moment, there comes Abishai to David’s help, hurting and killing the Philistine giant.The name “Ishbibenob” means “my throne on Nob” or “my throne on a high place”. He is the representation of satan in his rebellion, who wants to destroy us (Is. 14:12-15;Jo. 10:10). David (his name means “beloved”) could have been killed, wasn’t him covered/protected by his mighty soldiers, among which Abishai is highlighted. The name Abishai means “father of a gift” or “wishing for a gift”.We, the church, are the Lord’s beloved and we have an enemy who wants to see our destruction. He has got a new made sword, a strategy planned specially to destroy us, and because of that we can’t, or shouldn’t, be in this battle alone. We must be surrounded by mighty warriors to protect us and give us support. This is done through intercessors, financial supporters, advisers, leaders, strategists, brothers and sisters that will be with us side by side in the field. In the end David’s soldiers didn’t allowed David to go out to fight again, so that the light of Israel may not be turn off. In the same way, we are the light to the nations, and if we do not take care we may be defeated by the enemy, and the worst result will be that our light to the nations will be extinguished. We have to surround ourselves with people like Abishai, who owns a gift to bless, advice, intercede, disciple, pastor, encourage, help us to see the things we are not seeing. They are people to whom we may be accountable and in submission, so that our light may shine brighter and brighter.